A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brow family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7166 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. on a chev. ar. three roses of the field”
EnglandHerts, c. 1620
Where the Brow Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brow arms are recorded
The Brow arms were recorded in Herts, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Brow arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Brow Family in England
The surname Brow has deep roots in Northern England, particularly within the historic city of York. By the early seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region, likely earning the moniker as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who lived near a prominent hillside or a steep riverbank. In Middle English, the word brow referred to the edge of a cliff or the crest of a hill, suggesting that the first people to use the name were identified by their specific local geography. As the family grew in York during the 1620s, they became part of the local social fabric, living through a period of significant urban development and religious change in the north. This transition from a simple descriptive term to a formal family name reflects the common way English surnames evolved as populations became more settled and record-keeping became more essential for trade and taxation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a chev. gu. three roses of the first”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Brow Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Brow arms are recorded
The Brow arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Brow arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Brow Family in Scotland
The surname Brow has deep roots in the historical landscape of Scotland, where it emerged as a distinct identifier long before the mid-eighteenth century. While the name is often associated with the descriptive nature of early Scottish surnames, which frequently highlighted physical traits or locations, it established a notable presence in the capital city of Edinburgh by 1748. During this era, families with this name were active participants in the urban growth of the city, navigating a period of significant social and economic transition following the Jacobite risings. As the family settled into the rhythms of Edinburgh life, they became part of the growing merchant and professional classes that helped define the Scottish Enlightenment. Their presence in the city records from this time suggests a family that was well-integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of a city that was rapidly becoming a global center for trade, law, and education.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brū
Old English term referring to an eyebrow or the brow of a hill.
This name
BrowA topographic name for someone who lived on the brow of a hill or a descriptive nickname for someone with prominent eyebrows.
also spelled
Browa
Browse
Related arms
Bowlesrecorded with Brow, same area
Bownerecorded with Brow, same area
Bromerecorded with Brow, same area
Ellisrecorded with Brow, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
